WBC SAYS TACONING TO LAUNCH TERRIFIC CHALLENGE FOR LIGHT FLYWEIGHT TITLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 29 Jun 2016
The World Boxing Council says that in a battle of southpaws, Filipino KO artist, 29 year old Jonathan ?Lightning? Taconing is coming to Arena Coliseo, near to Mexico City to launch a terrific challenge, as number one contender against the 34 year old WBC light flyweight champion Ganigan ?El Maravilla? Lopez, this Saturday.
It is expected to be the very toughest Ganigan could have chosen for his first title defense.
The Mexican won the title from Japan?s Yu Kimura in Kyoto last March 4 by a majority decision in a fight that appeared to be strange in terms of the scorecards.
While Cathy Leonard scored it 119-109 for Ganigan Lopez and Tex Ritter also had the Mexican the winner 118-110, Mexican judge Juan Carlos Pelayo had it even at 114-114.
At the weekly World Boxing Council press conference in Mexico City's Zona Rosa, Ganigan, smiled and waved as he greeted Taconing who was sitting across the other side of the room, accompanied by promoter Johnny Elorde of the famous Elorde family.
Also in Mexico were Johnny?s wife Liza and two sons Miguel and Martin who are both regional boxing champions.
The WBC reported ?there was palpable tension in the office, which was jam packed with dozens of reporters, photographers and TV cameras.?
Taconing who has a record of 22-2-1 with 18 knockouts thanked the WBC and its President Mauricio Sulaiman for this opportunity. He explained he's been ?carefully studying the way Ganigan moves and fights. And warned if Ganigan, evades and tries to box, he'll definitely go after him.?
Taconing said Mexico City's altitude affected him only for the first day, and he's now attuned to it as well as acclimatized to the weather.
Ganigan whose record isn?t as impressive as Taconings with 6 defeats against 27 wins with 17 knockouts praised Taconing as ?a worthy and powerful opponent but stressed he himself has trained to peak condition.?
Ganigan said it's taken him his entire life to win a coveted WBC belt, so he vows he's going to keep it!
Former WBC light flyweight champion Pedro Guevara who was at the press conference said while Taconing has power, Ganigan is ?stylish, accomplished and very determined.?
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